Realistic or Modern An Italian Wedding, Spring 1494

[Last Origin]

The sun was high over the beautiful city of Genoa as crowds gathered in the streets below as the wind blew gently over the nearby sea, the sound of the waves heard softly in the distance. Genoa always smelled of sea salt and the various smells of any city, usually of many fine delicacies. There in the city plaza surrounded by the pristine white Mediterranean homes with their orange roofs was to be one of the most high profile weddings the city had seen in years: today, the Aldini and Marino merchant families would be formalizing their alliance with the sudden marriage of an Aldini son and a Marino daughter, much to the surprise of many other such families. The youngest Aldini, Riccardo, was the groom-to-be, a young man well known for his adventurous spirit on the seas as well as his many acts of recklessness in the city itself. Whispers went around that the marriage would be flimsy--Riccardo wasn't the type of man who could be of much service to his wife or his family, making an already flimsy political marriage seem about as rushed and reckless as Riccardo himself. And yet, the proceedings were going as planned thus far.

In a small building nearby reserved for such events, Riccardo was being dressed in an elegant tunic and a fine hat with a feather stuck in the side. He found the clothing to be a little too tight for his liking, but there wasn't much he could do about it now. As much as he detested the whole ceremony, and frankly wasn't ready to give up the life of a young bachelor yet, he still begrudgingly finished putting on his wedding garb. He looked the picture of a Renaissance Italian merchant, surrounded by his friends, who couldn't help but snicker at how positively pompous he looked. He sighed; Riccardo knew that this would be over soon, at least. Well, the ceremony would be. The whole 'being with someone until they died' thing really put a damper on his spirits otherwise.

It was well known that the Aldinis and Marinos had been rivals for a long time. While initially being parallel in terms of their growth and goods of trade, as they grew in power and notoriety they eventually found themselves stepping on each other's toes and competing for the sale of many common goods, which led to a lot of disputes, legal battles, and hostile takeovers of various goods. Riccardo cared for virtually none of this, but a disdain for the Marinos had been fostered in him for a long time. The reason for it was clear: two other families, the Bernardi and Cattaneo families had recently allied using a similarly convenient political marriage. Riccardo and his wife-to-be were thus similarly pawns in the same game. However, Riccardo had no intention of playing along, even if he would accept the marriage. He presently didn't have a plan for such, but he thought one might come to him, in time.

Perhaps I could elope with some other, prettier girl, he thought to himself as he entered into the crowded streets. Minstrels played a jaunty tune as he was led by his father to a small stage in the center of the plaza, where it was clear the announcement itself would take place. He still had no idea who this Marino girl was--her name, what she looked like, anything. The announcement had been no less than two weeks ago, which had passed in the blink of an eye. Riccardo held his breath as he finally reached the stage, scanning the area for his betrothed, and held a specific worry in his mind: not that she would be ugly in some general sense, but rather that she would be beautiful, were it not for some kind of feature marring her face in some way: a scar, a large mole, too many freckles. After all, he thought, who would want to be married to a woman who looked like that?

Of course, in time he would learn that such concerns were not only baseless, but also foolish, cruel, and misguided, for his role to come would be much larger than he could have imagined, as would his betrothed's... but that wouldn't be until September. For now, only the wedding was on Riccardo's mind.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

"Smile, darling." That was an order that she felt had been on repeat all morning as her friends helped her to prepare for the wedding that she wanted no part of. She was dressed in a green dress, this being the perfect color as not only did it match her eyes but it also represented young love. However, this was not a marriage based on love but rather necessity, another business deal as far as Caterina was concerned. She had stated as much when she had been informed of the engagement and after having her tantrum, she had decided to get through today. Much to her dismay, the weeks had passed and today was the day when she was to be wed. She didn't know which son she had been promised to, only that he came from a rival family. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a braid, flowers being braided into the thick locks before they helped her with her veil.

She listened as the women around her gushed about how beautiful she looked and how she would be the perfect bride, those vibrant green eyes of hers narrowing in annoyance. Anyone else may have blushed, may have found themselves excited at the idea of their wedding but Caterina had never been given the choice. She wanted nothing to do with this arrangement or her betrothed. She stalled for as long as she could before her father came to gather her from the room where she had been getting ready, the man leading her through the crowded streets and to the center stage where the ceremony would take place. Caterina took her steps slowly, trying her hardest to slow time as she looked forward to the stage.

As they drew closer she took the time to observe her betrothed from afar, getting closer and closer before she finally was stood before him. She studied his features silently, from his dark brown hair to the features of his face before stopping as she got to his eyes. Blue like the ocean. It could be worse. But looks were only part of things. Having a handsome face didn't ensure any other qualities of their marriage. Didn't ensure a good, happy marriage.

 

[Last Origin]

Riccardo stood for what seemed an eternity in his mind on the stage, alone, as he waited for his betrothed to finally appear. The dread of being married to a homely woman again filled his mind, as while her dress appeared beautiful, it was too hard to tell at a distance what this woman looked like. In his mind, it mattered little what the political ramifications of their marriage were, despite his father's constant chiding and reminders that he needed to start taking an interest in the family business, as he would soon be granted management to a section of the trade both of his own, and that of his Marino soon-to-be-wife. "You'll both be responsible!" he would shout, among other things, the entirety of which Riccardo naturally tuned out in favor of what he actually wanted to do, which was to spend more time at the docks or out at sea, fishing or otherwise partying with friends. He hated that for the wedding, his betrothed would be the one who got to look out to the Mediterranean as their marriage was announced, even though his love of the sea was, in his humble opinion, quite well-known by his family.

That's probably exactly why I'm not facing it, he thought. In another thought, he wished he could marry the water, the waves, or just about anything other than this woman he'd never met.

As she grew closer, he squinted to see her face, his eyes returning to normal as she grew closer and closer. He was impatient, tapping his foot once or twice and swaying a little bit as he waited for her to get closer. Finally, they were face-to-face and he finally got to make sense of the features he couldn't quite make out from a distance. Her eyes were a lovely green, he thought, and her hair was as beautiful as he'd expect from another wealthy merchant family's daughter. Her dress was similarly beautiful, he thought, although he was far more curious what she looked like when she hadn't been prettied up so much for the ceremony. It occurred to him that this day wasn't about them, it was about the Aldinis and the Marinos and all the bags of florins they would make by combining their businesses. And if they cared so little about his happiness, he didn't see much reason to care about the actual marriage.

He locked gazes with her for a moment before the wedding officiator, his father, Francesco Aldini, spoke to the crowd.

"We gather here today to announce the wedding of my youngest son, Riccardo Aldini, and the beautiful daughter of Alfonso Marino, Caterina. As a father I simply could not be more proud of this moment. Today the Aldinis and Marinos put aside their differences and join arms instead with this blessed union," Francesco said, holding his arms up as the crowd below cheered. Riccardo's eyebrow raised for just a moment before he tried to maintain a straight face again. The two of them were close enough now that some of the more intimate details of their faces became clear to each other, and he admitted to himself that yes, this Caterina was beautiful, and he felt what any young man his age might at the prospect of being presented with someone like her as his wife. The feeling was only temporary, however, as his father brought him back to reality.

"Now, the man and woman may bind our fates together with a kiss as we pronounce them husband and wife," Francesco continued. This was a moment Riccardo had been dreading--doing something like this so publicly wasn't something he was too keen on. All the same, after a brief moment of hesitation and feeling his heart start to beat a little harder, he leaned in to kiss his betrothed... and missed her mouth, kissing her on the nose instead. The shock was immediate as the crowd could be heard gasping. Riccardo even thought he heard a woman in the crowd faint, only hoping it wasn't his dear mother. His father was hiding what must have been a thousand years of shame and disgrace behind his wearied features, as he continued with the procession as if the little disaster hadn't just happened.

"And with that, I present to our beautiful city of Genoa the new Signor and Signora Aldini. Now, we will feast in their honor! Meno male! Thank goodness!"

Riccardo was unable to even look at Caterina after what had just happened, and now the two of them were to be seated next to each other and their families for their celebratory feast. He could hardly stomach the thought. The food hadn't quite been served to the feast table when Riccardo thought he might try to lighten the mood a little bit.

"I promise that I only kissed you on the nose out of fear my forehead might bump into yours," he said, jokingly. "If you would though, we might try again here during the feast so that perhaps my poor padre may go home tonight with a shred of his honor intact. I worry his heart simply cannot take the shame."

He looked into her eyes once again, fearing the eventual response.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

After taking the time to study Riccardo she looked past him to the see, her eyes going as distant as she tuned out everything around her. Instead she let herself focus on the way the waves approached the shore, wishing that she could be out there to enjoy them. Instead she was here being forced to put on a show. The sudden movements of Riccardo's father and the sounds of the crowd pulled her attention back to the current events, Caterina pausing as Riccardo leaned in for a kiss. She had gone deathly still, not moving a muscle as he moved in close. She wasn't expecting his lips to brush the tip of her nose however and she had to bite back a laugh as he pulled away.

He's never going to live this down. Whether it was her who would taunt him for the rest of their days or the witnesses in the crowd, this was a moment that would not be forgotten. Not now, not ever. She forced a smile as the ceremony came to an end, being led away for the feast. Caterina was picking at her food as he spoke up from beside her, her green eyes twinkling in mild amusement as he made an excuse about why he had missed. Why he had screwed up in front of everybody. She gave him a sidelong glance as he suggested they try again here in the feasting hall, the woman dabbing at her mouth and scanning the crowd to ensure nobody was watching or listening for what came next.

Still her eyes held that devious twinkle as she leaned forward, her lips a mere inch from his. She held herself there though, not closing the distance as she rose her eyes to his, a sinister smile forming as her true intentions were made clear. "I'd be disappointed too if my son screwed up such an important part of a ceremony. If that was your first kiss, simply say so, my love. But please do not expect me to clean up your messes for you." She chimed brightly, raising her hand to cup his face. To anyone watching the interaction it would have looked like a cute moment between the newly weds. She took her time in pulling away, placing her hand back in her lap and picking at her plate once more.

"I hope you don't screw up everything else. I'm genuinely worried.. If you couldn't handle a kiss..." She popped a piece of fruit into her mouth as she finished, sizing him up to see what his reaction would be. Caterina wasn't playing nice, she had given her best behavior for the ceremony and that was more than enough as far as she was concerned.

 

[Last Origin]

Playing the part he was supposed to, Riccardo took a few bites of his food as well after mentioning his idea to Caterina. The spread of fresh meats, bread, and vegetables was easily the best part of the whole ceremony, and probably the only thing that he found himself smiling about the whole time. It wasn't his family's cooking, so he wondered if this was the work of one of the Marinos, or a local chef. Either way, the food tasted simply delightful. He was interrupted, however, when his new wife cupped his face and was perhaps mere millimeters away from his own lips, and began speaking her thinly-veiled to threats to him. It seemed as though another nightmare of his had come true--his wife was no docile lamb, but a lion in sheep's clothing. His mind turned to a vision of a future where, in their old age, she was still threatening him to do even the most menial of tasks. It was a nightmare more grim than any he'd ever had before.

This was followed by another series of implications that had Riccardo suppressing the largest scowl he'd ever wanted to make. Who was she to question his manhood? He'd kissed plenty of young girls in the streets of Genoa, just one of the many perks of being a son of one of the wealthiest families in Genoa. Yet here she was, making a fool of him. Making a fool of his whole family! Of course, he'd messed up the kiss at their wedding and the shame for that was eternal--but he couldn't bear the indignity of listening to her chide him. It was worse than his own mother. So as they each finished taking another bite, Riccardo turned to Caterina and told her what he felt in a harsh, hushed voice.

"Listen--I can more than handle myself, and also, you can't just insult me like this on the day of our wedding, in front of my whole family! You are my wife, you are supposed to show me respect and support me, and we are supposed to work together! Now, I will kiss you again, and this time, I will not miss."

He took his finger and turned her head to face him. Her face was positioned perfectly as he leaned in and he extended his lips again. Everything was perfect. Right up until his lips pressed against her chin, and Riccardo held that kiss for a long moment, as he was suddenly paralyzed with an even more crippling shame as many of the feast's onlookers gave them another look of shame. Riccardo's mother shook her head, and Francesco put his head in his hands as other members of the feast groaned in response. In a moment, Riccardo would turn away, saying nothing as he began to eat his food again, his cheeks flushed a deep red as he awaited the inevitable beratement from the woman he'd invariably just humiliated not once, but twice on their wedding day. And there was still so much more of the day to go.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Anger was an emotion that she had expected from him and his response did not disappoint her at all. As he leaned in close to speak his piece those green eyes of hers only lit up further in amusement. Did he expect to frighten her? To make her feel bad? "It's okay darling, try again." She coaxed, her voice gentle and soft though she hardly meant it. She let him guide her head, holding back laughter as he leaned in for that kiss he was so desperate to get. He was drawing closer now and the moment of truth followed soon after, his lips pressing to her chin and holding there before he pulled away.

"Thought you weren't going to miss?" Caterina questioned through a fit of giggles, looking over at him as he silently brooded. "You should have stopped while you were ahead." She chided with a smirk, her eyes lingering on him as she noted the color of his cheeks. Be nice. And yet, any sympathy she may have held for him was gone after his little speech and the fact that not once but twice, he had missed and the second time had been one hundred percent due to him trying to prove himself.

She let the two of them fall back into a tense silence, occasionally scanning the guests in the feast hall before sparing a glance to her husband. He was still silently brooding, trying to hide behind his food. At least he wasn't missing his own mouth. "Is it stage fright? Is that why you keep missing?" Caterina questioned suddenly, turning to look at him as she decided yet again to antagonize him and to poke the bear. He was already in a sour mood after having embarrassed the both of them not once but twice.

And of course, she was offering him a sweet innocent smile as she spoke even though her words were anything but funny; she was clearly and openly mocking him again.

 

[Last Origin]

The nightmare only seemed to be getting worse as Riccardo endured Caterina's soft but biting words. He choked down the pork and pasta in front of him, barely able to swallow at the sheer embarrassment he was feeling now. He wasn't even thinking of the larger ramifications of his actions, of the ill omen it spelled for the Aldini-Marino alliance and the many disputes it would likely cause for their parents. He was normally such a confident person--so why was he messing this up so bad? He ignored her question and answered with a new statement instead.

"My wife--I fear to say it, but I think this marriage is cursed. We should both keep our heads down and try not to--"

Francesco stood up again. It appeared he had an announcement.

"Good people of Genoa--we have feasted now and witnessed the beautiful union of our two families. Now, it is time to celebrate." He looked towards Riccardo and Caterina and winked. It seemed the lunatic thought this would fix things. "We shall now watch as the new bride and groom have a dance together in celebration of their new, happy lives together, and the fortunes of our two families."

Oh God. Oh no.

"We have made space outside in the plaza to dance--when the two have finished, then we shall all have a chance to share our fine footwork with wonderful Genoa. Now, let us go and watch these two beautiful youths express their love for one another with a round dance, the ridda, or perhaps the ballonchio. I am sure we will marvel at how well they dance together."

Riccardo stood up with what felt like the weight of a thousand stones piled on his shoulders, his expression now pale and ghastly. He looked to Caterina. "I think he refers to those ballroom dances from Florence," he said. He knew of them, although he certainly hadn't practiced them. "I spend a lot of time on a ship--I'm good with my feet--this will be easy. All we have to do is make it look like we know what we're doing and we will save our families' pride."

His optimism was followed by an almost ominous silence as many of the patrons stood up to head outside. He and Caterina would be some of the last to leave, and he reluctantly led her to the center of the plaza, where it seemed all the eyes of Genoa now awaited their dance. He took her into the traditional ballroom pose of the lead, his hand on her waist and holding her hand high in his, as he looked into her eyes. Their beautiful, green hue distracted him for a moment before he remembered himself.

"Right," he said. "Are you ready?" He said the next part loud enough for the crowd to hear. "Shall we dance, my love?"

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Our marriage is cursed. That was likely the one and only thing that Caterina would ever agree upon regarding this marriage of theirs, it was cursed from the moment it had been arranged. He wanted her to keep her head down, to avoid drawing attention when he was the one drawing attention to the pair with his failed attempts at a simple kiss. Not once but twice, he had publicly embarrassed the both of them. She didn't have time to remind him that he was the one to blame for the negative attention, a much larger problem surfacing.

At the mention of a dance, Caterina dabbed at her mouth and looked down to her plate. She didn't want to dance, she was sure that somehow Riccardo would even ruin that. Damn this tradition. She did her best to draw out her time at the table, taking small and slow bites of her food. It wasn't until her husband finally stood from the table that she knew she was out of time, the pair being among the last ones to leave the feast hall and to join the citizens of Genoa on the streets for this dance. "You think?" She hissed, her voice low as she tried to think of the easiest dance between the two - something that couldn't be screwed up.

Riccardo pulled her to him, the pair getting into position for their dance as he asked the dreaded question that would change nothing. Are you ready? Never. Absolutely not. He was speaking loud enough for the crowd to hear, likely trying to ensure that her answer was fitting for that of a blushing bride. She wanted to chew him out, to tell him not to screw this up but instead she offered a shy smile. "Yes, my love." Was her answer, but that smile didn't quite meet her eyes. For once she was nervous, realizing that she had to follow his lead through the dance and hope that he didn't embarrass the both of them.

"Please tell me you actually know how to dance." Caterina spoke in a whisper, looking up at him and studying his face for a reaction. She was waiting to see if he would lie to her about his dancing capabilities. Again she was careful to make it look like she was a sweet innocent bride, not a demon in a wedding dress relentlessly taunting her helpless husband.

 

[Last Origin]

The dance was upon them. The eyes of their parents and families were upon them. The eyes of all Genoa were upon them. Of all the moments not to screw up, this would be the most important. So Riccardo began to dance, leading Caterina in a few, tentative steps to get used to her step and rhythm. He'd danced a few times, just never professionally--he hoped that wouldn't be a cause for concern, even if they looked less like a young couple and love and more like an older couple trying to remember how to dance.

"I do know how to dance," he whispered back, his eyes locked on hers for the sake of the dance. "It just isn't a big pastime of mine. I'd much rather be on a ship..." he said. It occurred to him-- they were finally speaking to one another. In all honesty, it was quite the intimate moment: their faces so close and their eyes looking into the other, their feet in rhythmic step. He was just realizing how beautiful Caterina actually was. No mere daughter of a merchant family locked away and only presented to ambush some poor suitor for an agreement, no, the Marinos had offered a daughter with a truly sublime appearance to secure this alliance between families. Riccardo felt a sense of shame welling in him, both about his preconceived notions regarding his wife prior to the ceremony, and now for the woman he'd publicly humiliated not once, but twice.

He started to pick up speed with their dance. "Let's do a spin," he said, softly. He took a few more steps at their new pace, then leaned back slightly as he led Caterina into the spin--he held on tightly so that she could complete the move, shortly before returning to their previous position. It seemed the dance was going far better than expected. Their eyes were locked again, and Riccardo began to feel a sudden confidence well in his chest again. Unfortunately, it would be misfounded.

Their new pace and relative unfamiliarity with each other meant that the inevitable outcome of their dance was going to be disastrous. Just when he thought he fully understood her steps, he stepped once too quickly, tripping over her feet suddenly and crashing to the ground. He only hoped she would be spared the humiliation of this newest misstep, but he had a feeling based on his own fall that in mere moments he would feel Caterina land against him, or on the ground next to him, where once again they would be the subject of their families' ridicule and shame...

A faint thought formed in his head, now that he'd ruined a moment that seemed sweeter not only for the circumstance, but also for his realization of his wife's beauty.

I'm sorry, he thought. I'm so sorry.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

I do hope he's not lying about his abilities to dance. Caterina found herself thinking as he explained that he did know how to dance, even if it wasn't something he did often. "I would much rather be on a boat, sailing away from all of this nonsense." She admitted, though this wasn't directed at him in particular, no - she was referring to the marriage and the new expectations that came with it. All they had to do was get through this one dance and she stared into his eyes as they moved in unison, noting how the sunlight made them lighter. He wasn't hard on the eyes at all, she certainly could have done worse and she began to relax as they danced, even coming to enjoy it. A true, genuine smile spread across her face as he spun her, Caterina following his lead and coming right back to him once the spin was done. This time they were closer together and it seemed that they had found their comfortable pace.

They both had grown too confident, too comfortable in their dancing capabilities and the next moment she found herself groaning in pain as he stepped on her foot, soon completely tripping over her. And she wasn't far behind him, stumbling and tripping over him as he roughly landed on the platform. His hand reached out to catch her, to brace her from the fall but soon a tear was heard and she landed next to him, looking at him with wide eyes. Soon she dared to look to the torn fabric of her dress, noting the tear and the smooth exposed skin of her shoulder. Her best dress, her favorite dress ruined. "How could you?" She started, her voice raising with each passing moment. She was visibly upset, her face red as she glared at him.

Caterina pushed herself up off of the ground, glaring down at him. "Was it not enough for you to embarrass me by refusing to actually kiss me? You had to ruin this, too?!" Now she was yelling down at him, tears of anger welling in her eyes. She gestured to her dress next, another thing on the list of things he had ruined today. "And now you've gone and ruined my best dress!" Caterina scolded, holding her hand up to silence his protests. "I don't want to hear it. It's time to stop acting like a ruffian and accept the fact that I didn't want you either but I had to settle! I didn't have a choice!" She looked down at him in disgust now, the crowd around them murmuring in shock at her outburst.

She took a step away from him as he stood, putting a distance between them. "We are not finishing this dance. In fact, anything else, I will handle since you are clearly not capable." She couldn't even look at him now, trying to calm herself down as she knew that if he said anything she would likely let loose into him again and the damage had already been done. They were doomed.

 

[Last Origin]

The split second of impact finally ended, and Riccardo noticed his blushing bride was taking a tumble herself; he thought, perhaps, he could make it seem intentional of he could just catch her. However, the third miss of the day would occur when his hand, trying to grab a hold of her, instead caught the finery of her dress, which given the angle of the fall and the direction and speed, caused a great and tremendous tear. His precious Caterina's shoulder was now on display for the whole city as she plummeted to the ground next to him, landing with an unceremonious thump on the cobbled street. He watched in terror as she then rose from the ground as if possessed by some evil spirit, her face growing as red as molten steel being tempered in the blacksmith's furnace. And then, she started shouting at him as the crowd seemed to watch with a similar, hushed terror.

He supposed he deserved it, by this point. His repeated attempts to make things better had simply humiliated her, and by now it had moved past the point of simply being a mistake, even if they were all accidents. Riccardo felt as if some divine conspiracy had decided that his life from this day onward would be one of misery and shame, haunted by a scorned wife who would make every day unto the last painful and insufferable. Caterina stepped away from him at the end of her tirade, leaving him speechless for a moment, still lying on the ground. In a moment, he would finally stand; all eyes were still fixed on the newlyweds.

Riccardo felt tears sting his eyes as he mustered a response. "If you must handle everything to be happy, then so be it," he said, brushing himself off. "I have ruined your dress and your wedding, yes. It's true. I fear that I may ruin our families' plans too with my many mistakes." He kneeled before her, which caused some of the audience to cover their mouths in shock--as if Caterina's exposed shoulder weren't already scandal enough. "Your eyes are as beautiful as the setting sun over the sea. I only hope you might forgive me of the shame I have brought to you, il mio amore."

This seemed to please the crowd, at least, who were touched by his apology and his admission of shame, but he feared that same apology would do nothing to satiate the demon he'd conjured out of his bride. He bowed his head even further, like a prisoner waiting for the executioner's axe to fall, for her response.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Those fiery green eyes of hers were re-directed at him as he spoke, Caterina daring him to spout off about how she was his wife and should treat him better. If looks could kill, he would die a slow and truly painful death right there on the platform. That look softened for a moment though as she watched him kneel before her, clearly taken back by the gesture and the apology that followed. At least he is good at something. Anyone else would have likely swooned at that apology, went running back into his arms and told him that they weren't mad anymore. But not her. She regarded him with a silent once over, turning to look at the crowd who was waiting to see how she would handle herself next.

Caterina helped him to his feet, drawing him into a hug and pressing her lips to his ear as she spoke. "You owe me so much more than an apology." She hissed in a low warning before pulling away with a star-struck smile. The act was back on and she gestured for him to lead the way off of the platform and to whatever ridiculous celebration was waiting. To the next thing that he would ultimately screw up and ruin. This wedding would be the joke of Genoa for years to come. The cursed Aldini-Marino marriage, they would certainly be setting an example for other marriages to follow. How not to mess up your wedding.

At this rate he would be lucky to survive the night with her. She spared a glance to Riccardo again, any previous kind sentiments that she had held for him were now gone and replaced by her anger for him. Her hatred. Out of all of the people in Genoa, she had to marry him and he couldn't even handle the wedding.

 

[Last Origin]

After Caterina reminded him of their unfortunate circumstance again, and before Riccardo could reply, Francesco stepped out from the crowd.

"I think today is a day where we must learn that some people make mistakes, but that they should be forgiven for them too. Now that the beautiful young couple has danced, let us now dance too, and hopefully without mistakes!" he said, with a throaty laugh. Riccardo and Caterina would shortly be overtaken by their many guests, who began dances of their own. Riccardo escorted Caterina out of the dancers themselves to a more calm location. He gave her a sincere look--perhaps the most sincere since the wedding had begun.

"I think there is only one thing left for us to do," he said, with a sigh, looking away. "In the evening there will be a small show--fire eaters, acrobats, magicians--that sort of thing. All we have to do is just sit and pretend we like each other." He looked at her again, briefly, and quickly added. "And I know--I know you hate me. I ruined our wedding. I cannot imagine your shame. I'm going to go to the seaside until the show starts, and I'll meet you again then." He gave her a sheepish, half smile, not waiting to hear her response before he started walking down the street. He thought of escaping Genoa, but the thought of being a penniless nobody somehow scared him even more than his wife. In a short while, he'd be by the seaside on a small beach, where he stood, watching the tide go back and forth, and watching the waves in the distance.

He looked around to see if anyone had followed, and, not immediately seeing anyone, decided to stretch his arms and legs. He looked out to the wavy blue in front of him and wished he were aboard a small ship, admiring the waters from inside them rather than at their edge. The waves were unpredictable; they went back and forth, they had highs and lows. He could never predict what they might do next, for just as it seemed they had a pattern, they would change again. And so it was with his own life: things were changing. But unlike the sea, Riccardo was a young man, and he found that changes weren't something he liked. He had a carefree life prior to today, spent fishing and sailing whenever he pleased, and being with his friends and some of the local girls, too. But now, in the first hours of his new, married life, he'd already ruined things so much that if his wife didn't kill him by sundown, he'd actually consider that to be the crowning achievement of his short life in terms of real accomplishments. Not that he didn't deserve it for being so careless, or so he thought.

He sighed, kicking some sand in front of him. "I guess it's over now," he said aloud, softly.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Now it was time for the crowd-goers to celebrate and dance, something that Caterina wanted no part of. She was starting to feel anxious as the crowd approached and was grateful as Riccardo led her away so that he could fill her in on what to expect next as well as his plans. “Hopefully there will be no further mishaps.” She spoke, studying him thoughtfully before watching him walk away. For a few moments she stood, giving her attention to the crowd as they danced.

Eventually she opted to follow Riccardo, not to seek out his comfort or to endure time with him. No. She too wished to have some alone time, time to herself without feeling as if everyone was watching her. It didn’t take her long to find her husband, Caterina studying him as he faced the ocean. In reality she should have been grateful for the match, she was marrying into another wealthy family and he was handsome. But none of that seemed to matter, not when he was incapable of the smallest tasks. A bumbling idiot.

She chose a spot on the beach as well, seating herself on a rock and staring out into the horizon. She was silent, taking a much needed moment to herself. A moment to breathe without the pressure of having to be at her best for the eyes in the crowd. Here, she could be vulnerable. Eventually her alone time was interrupted by Riccardo as he carefully made his approach, coming to let her know the festivities had begun.

Caterina remained seated, not even bothering to look at him. “It’s a shame. I was hoping to find love.“ She spoke softly, her voice sad as she turned to face him. She lifted her chin to look up at him, her eyes dark and angry. There was a storm brewing within her. “I dont think I could ever love you. You should do us both a favor… Go into the ocean and never return.” Caterina finished, standing so that she was nose to nose with him.

“And if you ever try to preach of my wifely duties to me again.. You won’t live to see the next sunrise.” She promised with a sickeningly sweet smile. Caterina promptly turned on her heel and left him standing there to process her words while she went to enjoy the festivities.

 

[Last Origin]

The long moment was over far too quickly, as Riccardo realized he was needed for the upcoming festivities. He was surprised to see Caterina had apparently follow him; a vision of her drowning him in the Mediterranean briefly flashed before his eyes. He put on his bravest face as he approached his angry, dissatisfied wife, which probably made him look quite the fool. He bore her insults like one bore a crossbow bolt to the stomach, trying his hardest not to let it affect him, but nonetheless deeply upset about the newest venom she was injecting with her words. It felt like a viper, sinking its teeth in and paralyzing him.

"I suppose I should," was all he could muster in response to the bit about drowning himself. She threatened his life again, but it felt strangely empty to him, as if it were an expected outcome and he was merely an observer to their conversation. He'd grown more weary of the day than he already was from the start--now, there was nothing left to do except suffer through the last stretch of the walk. He followed slowly after Caterina, but lost her as his own pace slowed. Soon, there were lights and dancers and other entertainers in the square, which normally would have fascinated Riccardo, but now only seemed to make the bitter feelings in his chest fester.

He was greeted by a strange sight as he returned to the plaza: Francesco Aldini as well as Alfonso Marino, the head of the Marino family, seemed to be in a heated dispute. Riccardo came closer, through some of the now sparser crowd, to see what was happening.

"...and I told you, we will replace it, it is no trouble," Francesco said, clearly on the backfoot of the conversation. Alfonso's face was red as a tomato, and his features bespoke an anger that Riccardo thought only possible in his new succubus of a wife.

"You have humiliated my family and my daughter this day. If it weren't for the Bernardis and Cattaneos, this deal would be over."

"Ah, Alfonso--they are young, and surely they make mistakes..."

"Mistakes? No, your son is the one making mistakes. My beautiful Caterina has done nothing of the sort. I have promised her to a bumbling baffoon! Imagine my shame!"

Riccardo was starting to feel an anger well in his chest. It was one thing for his wife to berate him; it was another to watch a man berate his father in such a way. Perhaps it was the events of the day, or perhaps it was Caterina's badgering and cruelty throughout the wedding, but Riccardo couldn't stand and let his father's name and honor be tarnished anymore.

"I will replace the dress," Riccardo said, bursting into the conversation, now as close to the two as they were to each other. His nostrils flared as he felt a righteous fury build inside him.

"Riccardo..." Francesco said softly.

"Now you send your boy to replace what you owe, Francesco?"

"No," Riccardo interjected. "He has not asked me. I do this for my own honor, and for my father's reputation. You speak of humiliation--I will have no more of it. The humiliation is mine alone, and I will bear it, not my father."

Alfonso scoffed dismissively, yet his face was filled with a sudden intrigue. "All of the humiliation? That is quite a lot. All Genoa has seen my beautiful daughter's shoulder now, thanks to you. She has been seen with a man who cannot bear to kiss her, or dance with her. All Genoa must think this is an omen, and I am afraid they are right."

"You may be afraid," Riccardo said, "but I still have my father's honor to consider. My family's honor. I will not let their reputations hang on my mistakes this day. I will get you the money to replace her dress, and when that is done, I will have a ceremony to honor her and the union of our two families. Which I will also pay for."

Alfonso's disdain at this point had been completely replaced by a cruel, yet interested gaze, like the face of an executioner about to watch a man hang himself with his own noose. After a moment of stroking his chin, considering, he said: "Very well. But if you fail this again at this time, then we will annul the marriage in a form of speaking. You will still be married--but you and Caterina will be sent to Corsica for the rest of your days. Am I understood?"

Riccardo nodded. Even if he felt such exile was strangely appealing, right now.

"I have no objection to this," Francesco said, with a wearied sigh. Riccardo nodded in agreement.

"Now--we came here to celebrate this day. So let us celebrate," Alfonso said, leaving the two of them. Riccardo looked to his father again.

"I am sorry, Father. I could not let him stain your honor as such."

Francesco looked as if he were about to weep; as if his son were already gone. "Of all the mistakes you have made today, this was the largest of all." Then, he too left. Riccardo was left alone in the crowd, standing and watching as the mummers and dancers put on their elaborate show in the street. In a moment, Riccardo would find a crate to sit on near the edge of the crowd, where there was still some visibility of the proceedings, but enough room that the sounds of it weren't quite so intrusive.

The Genoese air never felt so stifling.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

It seemed that while Riccardo had done his best to ensure that neither of them missed the ceremonies, his attempts much like everything else throughout the day had been in vain. The festivities were already in swing as Caterina made her way back to the town square, looking around with wide eyes at everything that had been arranged for them. She took her time to observe the fire dancers, their fire burning much like her temper had all day before she had finally let Riccardo have a taste of what he had earned. As the dancers took a break she moved through the crowded streets to seek out her parents, her friends stopping her and asking her how she liked her husband. Even though Riccardo was her least favorite person, she still planted a lovestruck smile on her features and gushed about how handsome he was and how she was so lucky.

In an effort to avoid further questions about Riccardo and the day's unfortunate events she continued through the crowd until she found her father in the midst of a heated argument with Riccardo's father. For a moment Caterina stood to the side, listening in on the argument to see what it meant for her new marriage. She was genuinely surprised it had taken so long for her father to lose his cool, especially as he was the one that had passed along the fiery temper that she held. Looks came from her mother, everything else came from her father. Sudden movements caught her eye and she was non too surprised to find that Riccardo was on the approach.

For once Caterina was stunned into silence as Riccardo joined the argument, wondering where this sharp tongued man had come from. She stepped forward to see what her husband had to say now, her blood running cold as his father spoke of the punishment for failure. Exile. She let the men finish their conversation before hesitantly stepping forward and looking to Riccardo as his father cursed him like she wanted to. He had just doomed the both of them, there was no way that he was going to be able to make this work.

Riccardo walked away, once again seeking solace and she stubbornly followed. "Did you mean it?" Caterina questioned, furrowing her brows at him as she finally found him seated atop a crate. "Did you mean that you'd do everything you had to in order to make things right after today's disaster?" She wanted to know if he could be serious after everything she had put him through today. She took a few tentative steps closer now, wondering if he'd turn that sharp tongue on her and give her a piece of his mind as he had her father.

"There aren't many men who are brave enough to go toe to toe with my father like you did. And for that.. I suppose you are a brave man. Or a stupid one." Caterina spoke thoughtfully, though she was genuinely impressed by him. "You owe me a new dress. Green or blue are my favorite colors. And a necklace to match." Those would be the beginning of her terms.

 

[Last Origin]

Riccardo felt his blood run cold as he heard the familiar voice of his bride; it seemed she had overheard him standing up to her father, and he braced himself for yet another tirade about his inadequacy and how he ought to drown himself. Instead, she seemed to be earnestly asking him if he was going to make good on his word. Riccardo could scarcely believe himself that he'd said what he said, and stood up for his family's honor as he had, but in hindsight he realized he hadn't thought much of Caterina's honor. But why would he? He barely knew this woman, his arranged wife, who'd done nothing but belittle and berate him since the start of their wedding. Still, this was the woman he was supposed to spend his days with, and he realized that maybe she would take a lot of effort before he saw any returns, too.

"Of course I mean it," he said, perhaps sounding overly defensive. Caterina seemed genuinely impressed that Riccardo had stood up to her father, and it had Riccardo feeling a little bashful. He started to think that maybe, somewhere, between her forked tongue and venomous words, that there was a wife who might appreciate and honor him in kind. "It's not easy to admit this, but..." he sighed in frustration, "But I screwed up our wedding. I know I did. And I know it's been driving you crazy. But I've got to make it right. The way your father treated mine, is the way that all of Genoa must see him now. And you, and I as well. I can at least get you the dress... but the necklace? That's going to take luck. Without my father's money, this won't be easy at all. But I have a few ideas."

He smiled at her. It wasn't his strongest smile, but it was hopeful. His heart carried a little of that hope, too.

"Maybe... since we are man and wife... we could take a seat and catch the end of the show? I think maybe I could do that without messing up. What do you think?"

There was still some time for them to sit together and watch the fire eaters and mummers, as the sun began to set on their first day together as a wedded couple. He wondered, as he led her to her seat, even pretending to pull it out for her as if it were at a table, if maybe this could be the real start of their marriage. As if, just maybe, he might be able to forget the marital debt he'd incurred so far. It was a fleeting dream, but as he sat next to her, he really, truly began to hope.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Again he told her that he was fully aware that he was the reason behind such a horrendous wedding, the cause for all of the day's stress and frustration. And while a lot of it had been caused by his mishaps, Caterina knew that he wasn't entirely to blame for the disasterous day as she wasn't making things any easier. A sound of disappointment sounded as he told her that he wasn't sure he could get her a new necklace and she debated telling him that an apology that didn't feature a new dress and a necklace to go with it wouldn't be welcome. The reason for holding her tongue came in the deal that he had made with both his father and her father to replace her dress and to throw another lavish ceremony for them. "We really don't need another ceremony." Caterina protested though she knew that the deal had already been made and Riccardo had to follow through.

"Maybe I can speak to my father on your behalf." Caterina suggested thoughtfully, soon shaking her head as she realized that it would likely only serve to make their situation first. Why in the hell was she even considering helping him through this? This was his fault, he had talked himself into this deal. She was pulled out of her plotting and planning as he suggested that they could go back and enjoy the festivities once more as man and wife. Green eyes swept over him, studying the way he was anticipating her answer. She had been cruel to him for the entire duration of their wedding, it was to be expected that he was awaiting her to be rude once more. "Very well."

She slid his arm through his and allowed him to escort her back, smiling as he pulled the chair out for her before seating herself next to him and watching the remaining festivities. She could feel her father watching them now, likely waiting to see what Riccardo would screw up next. "If not a necklace, I'll accept a bracelet. Or some earrings." Caterina spoke in a hushed whisper, decidedly making her husband pay for the troubles he had caused up to this moment and any further troubles that would follow.

The festivities were finally coming to an end which meant soon she would be ushered off with Riccardo to consumate their marriage, something that she wasn't looking forward to. They needed a solid end to their day, something to ensure the citizens of Genoa that this marriage wouldn't end in shambles. Caterina stood with Riccardo as he prepared to guide her away, gently grasping his hand and turning him back towards her. She looked up at him, green eyes meeting his brown ones as she palmed the side of his neck and pressed her lips to his, Cat making sure to give the crowd a show before slowly pulling away.

"That's how you kiss, darling." She spoke, grinning up at him. Of course, she had to give him shit about all of the times he had fell short today. The crowd around them cheered, proud that they had finally kissed.

 

[Last Origin]

Riccardo was contented with her reply--maybe her father would relent, or maybe he would see Riccardo as even more of a coward for 'sending' his wife to renegotiate. Either way, he wasn't about to fight Caterina on it. They'd already had enough fighting for one wedding day. His eyes met hers as she looked at him again, but this time they felt forgiving, encouraging. He was happy to lock arms with her as they went to see the last of the festivities together, somewhat relieved that he was in some way being affectionate with his wife. For a moment, his thoughts turned to the consummation that was supposed to happen later--how would that work?--but was returned as they reached their seats near the people of Genoa and their families again.

"You are too kind to me, Caterina," he said at the mention of bracelets and earrings. "Yet for my wife and my--our--families I must do better."

Then, she took hold of his hand. She turned him to her. She had a look in her eye that seemed altogether different from any he'd seen at any point in the day prior. Her hand, soft and delicate, took hold of his neck. For a moment he wondered if this was the end: she'd snap his neck in public to make an example of him to any would-be suitors henceforth. Instead, she closed the distance between their faces, and planted her lips on his; more than that, even. He pushed back gently against her kiss, matching her movements with their lips. If their kiss at the ceremony had gone this well, then maybe he wouldn't have worried so much about her and their future together. Maybe. After all, there was still the chance she was going to ruin his life. That remained to be seen.

He grinned back at her, though, his cheeks tinged with a slight red, especially as she teased him. The approval from the cheering crowds encouraged him, and he leaned in for another kiss. This time, he didn't miss, as he wrapped one arm around Caterina to hold her in place as he kissed back.

"I suppose it is," he said in return, with a smirk. He started wondering if maybe there was more to this woman than the harsh words and cruel demeanor. For a little while, he could forget the weight of the new promises he'd made and the deadline with dreadful consequences, and maybe just for a moment even be happy with his wife despite all the mistakes.

The following morning, he'd have to get to work. They'd figure out... something... for the consummation. But for now, he was just enjoying watching the show with Caterina, and his mind was relaxed for the first time that day.

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Thankfully it hadn't taken him long to catch onto what she was doing and to play along, for them to kiss each other like they actually liked one another. She was proud of herself for the reaction she had gathered from him, the way his cheeks had flushed a deep red. What surprised her was the way that he pressed into the kiss further and even dared to be greedy and to steal her lips once more for another long kiss. This time he was bolder with his actions, pulling her against him as he wrapped an arm around her.

Finally they pulled apart and stayed that way, Caterina looking up at him with wide eyes and giving him a silent nod of approval. He had done this one thing well. Maybe there was hope for him. Another show started and she turned her attention back to it, occasionally sparing a glance to Riccardo and sizing him up. "Where has that side of you been all evening? You could be quite charming if you weren't such a spineless coward." She commented, her eyes still following the movement of the newest group of dancers.

"I promised to help make things a little easier on you and for the deal you've just made... I'll do whatever I can to help ensure that you do not fail. As we will have to suffer the consequences together. You have my word on that." She promised quietly, soon turning to look at him to see what he thought.

 

[Last Origin]

For once, fortune seemed to be smiling on them. He took her compliments and sent them straight to his struggling ego, which more than needed the boost after the constant beratement he'd suffered from Caterina for most of the day. In fact, those words still hung in his mind:

"I dont think I could ever love you. You should do us both a favor… Go into the ocean and never return."

Even so, her renewed interest and attention had his spirits rising again. Even if she had just called him a spineless coward.

"I'll have you know that sailing the sea is not a coward's task!" he said, defensively. Caterina's words were stern and affirming, but in her own way, it almost seemed like she was being sweet. He thought for a bit, stroking his chin as he contemplated her words. "So you did. Promise, I mean. Very well, I accept your help, and... for what it's worth, it means a lot coming from my new wife." He gave her a half-smile, some real encouragement despite the daunting task ahead of them. "And, let me say too, that we are in this together. It... is no longer my life. It's ours. What I do, we do, and what we will do is prove to the world what an Aldini and a Marino can do together. Together we will make all of Genoa respect our families. That is my promise to you--a real wedding vow. And if you're willing to help me with giving you a second chance, well... then I believe that you want what I do, too."

He knew it was slightly improper, but he took her hand in his, looking into her eyes with determination and a confident smile. It all started with repairing the damage he'd caused today, but after that, who knew what was next?

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

Sailing the sea is not a coward's task. "I wish I could agree with you on that." Caterina mused, a touch of a smile lighting her face before their conversation shifted to the more important details of their deal. It seemed as if he genuinely believed that she could hold her end even though she had done everything under the sun today to show her general displeasure for him. She had been anything but the sweet wife that she was sure that he had been hoping to marry. The both of them surely had expectations of how this was to go down and in the end, neither of them really had gotten what they wanted. And now that they were facing possible exile as result of a deal that Riccardo had made - she was determined to ensure that he did not fail. Lest she go down with him.

She listened to his words and the emotion behind them, and if there was one thing she could say about her new husband it would be the following. He may be a spineless coward any time someone challenges him but when it comes to making deals, he seems the type to honor his word. As if one could count on him. "I just don't want to live my life in exile." Caterina snorted, though she wondered what he had in mind for giving her a second chance. While she had originally asked for valuables, she was more the type to go based on someone's actions. Jewelry and other gifts only went so far, only meant so much.

His next actions surprised her as he gently grasped her hand, giving her a confident smile. Caterina took a moment to study her new husband, sweeping her eyes over him and finding herself wondering where this confident man had been hiding. "Please do not attempt to kiss me. Because if you miss a third time, I fear there will be no saving us." She spoke suddenly, gently easing her hand away from him and turning her gaze forward again. "You went to the ocean for comfort today and you mentioned sailing... I'm assuming that you like to spend your time on the ocean, yes?"

 

[Last Origin]

"Alas, that you are so cold to me, mi amore, but I suppose I cannot blame you too much after all that's happened," he said, in response to her saying she was only interested because she didn't want to be exiled. At the moment, the thought of being exiled with her to Corsica also didn't appeal to him much at all, although that was honestly more so to do with Caterina than the island itself. In fact, being stranded on an island surrounded by the Mediterranean sounded perfect in some ways. He could meet a girl there, where they both loved each other and their simplistic lives, and--

He snapped out of his daydream as he realized his bride was not a simple Corsican girl, but was instead the spawn of the Marino family and the devil himself. He gave a hearty, forced laugh as she mentioned 'missing' again, and at this point the joke had far run dry for him due to the miserable task that lay ahead of him now. And yet, despite all this, he found himself missing the feeling of her hand as she pulled it away.

Her next question stunned him. It seemed genuine, and not related to their wedding at all.

"Well... yes, I love being out at sea. It's a Genoese tradition, you know. It's not much for a merchant's son such as myself, but I love the feeling of being in a boat and fishing. There's something about the endless water in the horizon that gives me... well, I know this sounds ridiculous, but it gives me hope, like my own horizon is endless, and I can go anywhere that I want to when I'm in a ship. Alas, I am not a sailor, nor am I a fisherman. I am a merchant's son, and now, a husband. But I love the sea, and I hope that both of these truths don't stop me from doing that which I love, and being that which I am."

He looked at her, his eyes reflecting his piqued interest. "Tell me, Caterina, what do you think of the sea?"

 

[LittleAndClumsy]

It wasn't even the fear of being exiled with him but rather the knowledge that exile meant that everything and everyone she knew would be gone. She was sure that the island itself wouldn't be horrible, that it would be a beautiful home. And there was also the assured belief that if she pressed hard enough, she could send Riccardo to the other end of the island to live out his days in solace. Far, far away from her. He reminded her that she had been cold to him all day and she offered him her usual devious grin as a reply. Did he expect any less? You told him you would do your best to help him honor his deal. To help him succeed. And she would, that didn't necessarily mean that she had to bite her tongue and conceal her true thoughts and feelings. A marriage based on lies was no marriage at all.

His passionate words about the sea held her attention, Caterina listening to him intently and soaking in every word he said. This man certainly did have a way with words and his love for the ocean was apparent as he spoke. It almost made her curious to see how he would describe her. He spoke about his new responsibilities to her and the fear of it interfering with his hobbies. She was about to give him reassurance that he could spend all the time out on the ocean that he wanted as long as it meant he wasn't following her around hour after hour, day after day when he turned the question on her. And the way he was looking at her suggested that he was truly interested in her answer. He wasn't asking to be polite.

She briefly tapped her lips as she thought of a good way to answer him, trying to think of how to put her feelings into such a beautiful message as he had just done. "It's one of the only places I feel free, where I feel that everything around you is true. The ocean is open, endless. There's so many possibilities for where it can take you and what you can do. It offers freedom but it also is a force of nature. Those waves could rock you to sleep or they could end your life. Beautiful and deadly." Caterina explained softly, unsure of why she admired both truths of the ocean as much as she did. "Nothing beats the sunset reflecting over the ocean."

 

[Last Origin]

Riccardo beamed as she spoke of the sea; living in Genoa, the Mediterranean was a part of their everyday lives, like it or not. And it seemed they might have finally reached some common ground. Or water. Whatever.

"It's true, it's true. You always have to have respect for the sea when you're out on her, because you never know if she's going to be fair or if she's going to swallow you whole and destroy you. Well, that's not strictly true. When you spend enough time out there you start to see the little signals the sea is sending." He looked at Caterina, inching his hand closer to hers again. "You learn she is most of the time, fair, and only very rarely is she angry. But you do not blame the sea. You simply learn what she is doing and show her respect, and she will be magnificent to you."

He was beside himself at his newfound enjoyment of their conversation. Sure, any Genoese woman might love the Mediterranean, but what were the odds he met one who understood it the same way he did? She had been a devil to him today, but maybe, he wondered, there was more to Caterina than she had revealed to him. Maybe somewhere there was a woman who not only he could call his bride, but also his love. After all, the sea was his first, and while that was a tough act to follow, he knew every day some boy needed to grow up, and be a man, or something else, anything else. And this disastrous wedding had been just the wakeup call he needed. Well, for now; later, he wasn't sure how he'd feel.

"The sunset is beautiful. A shame we both had to miss it this evening for each other. Maybe... we could go see it together? After all, with the sea... the possibilities are endless, right? And I think we could both use a fresh start. What do you say?"

He took her hand in his again, lifting it into the air between them, his eyes almost gleaming as he thought of them seeing the sunset together. After all, she would be the first one who really understood that.